Chapter 4/4
"You know, you look like the first man to ever bite into an apple only to find the worm was faster."
William smoothed his features and turned to his XO. Incidentally, he noticed the liquid in Saul's glass did not sparkle and was most likely water.
"Dislike being awarded, Bill?"
"I felt like a dancing bear in there, with the media and all." When Saul kept staring at him, William continued, "and I never thought I'd get an award for –"
"Cutting and running?"
Always right to the point, aren't you, Saul? This ability seemed to have increased after Tigh had stopped drinking; hopefully, he would stay away from alcohol in the future. "Yeah, though the official declaration makes it an outstanding tactical ability…"
Saul looked at him with a doubtful expression. "I see…" He inclined his head, then leaned forward and gazed around Adama. His eyebrows shot up. "I see. I wondered about them."
Adama's eyes narrowed. "Them?" He kept his eyes fixed on Saul, pressuring him to continue.
Tigh cleared his throat before he said, "Well…at Ragnar when they came aboard…oh, well, Lee asked me to 'give us two survival pods'. It sounded like he had cut his ties with the military, but…"
"But?" Bill prompted him, his tone icy.
"But he seems to have settled in…" Saul's voice trailed off under the hard gaze of his friend. He cleared his throat. "I think I'll get something to eat."
"Good idea."
William kept his eyes fixed on Tigh's back while his friend retreated. Saul could not have known that the same thoughts had plagued him until Lee's dedication to the military was rewarded and he made Captain at an early age. Surely, his early promotion had shown his boy that he was born for a career in the military.
Bill gazed over to Lee and wished Roslin would leave his son alone. Lee had enough to worry about without her complicating matters. Nevertheless, he knew she had taken an interest in Lee and she needed all her resources to keep the Civilian Fleet from falling apart. She was more than likely to intrude again.
Where would Lee's priorities be? Bill could only hope his son would stay by his side from now on. A part of him feared - no dreaded - that all they still shared was a family name, genes, the same career choices and some awards. However, the night after the Attacks had given him some hope that not all the bridges were burned.
Adama moved back to the crowded part of the room because he did not want to seem like he intruded. He and Lee would talk, really talk, when it was time. William knew it needed to be soon, since every day could be their last, but it would not be today.
For today belonged to living legends; it was not the day for the flesh and blood problems of fathers and sons.
-fin-